Consumable container

ABSTRACT

A consumable container which provides for the rapid release of its contents in the mouth of a consumer. The consumable container comprises an outer shell defining a closed cavity and a closed inner container inside the outer shell, in which the outer shell comprises a tight fibrous substance that is liable to rupture upon being placed in the mouth of a human or animal subject.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a consumable container, and in particular to a container for human or animal consumption by oral means, the content of which is intended to be absorbed into the bloodstream of the consumer through the capillaries of the mouth.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Absorption into the bloodstream through the capillaries of the mouth confers certain advantages over absorption through the lining of the gut. For example, absorption through the capillaries of the mouth can be more rapid and more efficient. Furthermore, absorption in the mouth can enable safe transmission to the bloodstream of medicaments that are liable to be damaged, or perhaps even destroyed by gastric juices.

[0003] Absorption through the gut involves an absorbed substance passing through the various organs of the digestive system before the substance reaches the bloodstream. Much of the potency of an active ingredient in the substance can be lost during this process. Absorption through the mouth, on the other hand, provides a more direct route to the bloodstream and this can help preserve the potency of an active ingredient.

[0004] The absorption of a medicament or the like through the gut often necessitates the conversion of the medicament during manufacture into the form of a salt. The salt may be compressed into a pill or may be left in its powdered form and encapsulated. The pill or capsule is swallowed by the consumer and the medicament converted back to its original form by the digestive system. A significant disadvantage of this approach is the reduction in the potency of the medicament that normally arises from the process of converting the medicament to a salt and converting the salt back to the medicament. A consequence of the reduction in potency can be an increase in the strength or quantity of the medicament. The increase in strength or quantity can cause damage, or perhaps even increase the damage caused to the digestive system of the consumer.

[0005] Absorption of medicaments through the capillaries of the mouth has long been used as a means of treating ailments that require rapid relief. For example, angina has been treated for more than a century by the placing under the tongue of a capsule containing nitro-glycerine. The nitro-glycerine containing capsule is cracked open with the teeth to release its contents. A single component gelatine capsule has often been used.

[0006] More complex capsule structures have been proposed. Often, such capsule structures are designed to be swallowed by the consumer. One such gelatine capsule is described in GB 2283899. The capsule of GB 2283899 has a coating that is used to control and delay the release of an unpalatable medicament, preferably in the gut.

[0007] The above described single component nitro-glycerine containing capsule and more complex capsules—exemplified by that of GB 2283899—require time and effort on the part of the consumer to release their contents in the mouth. Clearly, a consumer may be loath to expend time and effort on sucking or chewing such a capsule, and may prefer to swallow it before its contents are released.

[0008] The inventors have realised that there is a need for a consumable container that is more inclined to release its contents in the mouth of a consumer.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for consumption by a human or animal subject, comprising an outer shell of a tight fibrous substance of sufficient strength to withstand storage/handling and defining a closed cavity, a closed liquid impermeable inner container inside the cavity, which inner container is mechanically weak and protected by the outer container, containing contents of a liquid nature to be absorbed into the bloodstream of the subject, the nature of the tight fibrous substance being such that upon placing the container in the subject's mouth the tight fibrous substance breaks up in saliva and the nature of the closed inner container being such that it is liable to rupture in the subject's mouth, thereby releasing the contents to be absorbed in the subject's mouth.

[0010] The tight fibrous substance consists of tightly packed fibres that lie for the most part in line with the surface of the outer shell. Therefore, the outer shell is more liable to be ruptured by a force applied in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the surface of the outer shell. Thus, the outer shell has sufficient rigidity and strength for storage and handling purposes, but is less capable of withstanding forces that may be applied to the capsule on being placed in the mouth.

[0011] The tight fibrous substance may comprise a paper, such as rice or maize paper. Alternatively or in addition, the tight fibrous substance may comprise a mixture of gum arabica and wood fibres.

[0012] The outer shell may be (at least in part) softened by a liquid. More specifically, water may cause the outer shell to (at least in part) disintegrate. Saliva in the mouth of a consumer can cause the disintegration of the outer shell of a consumable container according to such embodiments.

[0013] The inner container may be substantially liquid 10 impermeable. A consumable container according to such embodiments is suited to the encapsulation of liquid or moisture-containing substances.

[0014] Many substances degrade on exposure to air. Thus, according to certain embodiments the consumable container may provide a substantially airtight seal for its contents. More specifically, the consumable container may be substantially impermeable to an oxidising gas. The airtight seal or impermeable barrier might be provided by the inner container.

[0015] According to certain embodiments the consumable container may be substantially opaque. Thus, the contents of the consumable container can be shielded from the harmful effects of sunlight.

[0016] The inner container may comprise an ester of monohydric alcohols of the higher homologues. More specifically, the inner container may comprise beeswax. A consumable container according to such embodiments has the desirable properties discussed above of providing a substantially airtight seal and of preventing liquid or moisture-containing substances from affecting the integrity of the outer shell. In addition, esters of monohydric alcohols of the higher homologues, such as beeswax, tend to undergo plastic deformation upon being placed in the mouth, thereby releasing the contents. Plastic deformation can be caused by salivation, movement of the tongue and like masticatory actions. According to certain embodiments plastic deformation might, for example, be brought about within 0.5 to 60 seconds after being placed in the mouth.

[0017] The consumable container may include a substantially indigestible component. The presence of the indigestible component in the consumable container can discourage a consumer from swallowing the container.

[0018] More specifically, the inner container may comprise one or more of a plastics material, paraffin wax and bakelite.

[0019] In embodiments according to the last-preceding paragraph, the inner container may be provided with a coating of a wax, such as beeswax. Such a coating of wax can provide an airtight and moisture proof seal around the inner container.

[0020] Alternatively or in addition, the substantially indigestible component may be of a fibrous material, such as cotton wool. The cotton wool might, for example, be used to absorb the contents of the consumable container.

[0021] Having arrived at this invention, the inventors realised that it has broader application than has been described above. The presence in a consumable container of a substantially indigestible component may in itself induce a consumer to retain the consumable container in his mouth irrespective of the ease or rapidity of break up of the container.

[0022] Therefore, from a second aspect, the invention provides a consumable container comprising an outer shell defining a closed cavity and a closed inner container inside the outer shell, in which the consumable container includes a substantially indigestible component.

[0023] According to this aspect of the invention, the indigestible component can discourage the consumer from swallowing the consumable container.

[0024] More specifically, the inner container may comprise one or more of a plastics material, paraffin wax and bakelite. Alternatively or in addition, the substantially indigestible component may be a fibrous material such as cotton wool.

[0025] The presence of the indigestible component provides for greater freedom in design of a consumable container than for a consumable container according to the first aspect of the invention. The ease and rapidity of break up of the outer shell is less of a desirable property.

[0026] Thus, in addition to the features of the consumable container described above in relation to the first aspect, the outer container may comprise a cereal, such as wheat flour, or a starch obtained from, e.g. potatoes or rice.

[0027] The inner container of the invention may have one of several forms. According to one such form, the outer surface area of the inner container may be coextensive with the inner surface area of the outer shell, whereby the inner container lines the outer shell. More specifically, the inner container may be a membrane formed on the inside of the outer shell.

[0028] According to another form of the inner container, the outer surface area of the inner container may be substantially less than the inner surface area of the outer shell. Alternatively or in addition, the inner container may be a pouch provided loosely inside the outer shell.

[0029] The inner container may comprise a plurality of chambers. Alternatively or in addition, a plurality of inner containers may be contained within the outer shell and each inner container may have a chamber. A different substance may be contained within each of the plurality of chambers. More specifically, upon consumption of a consumable container constituted according to such embodiments, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell may be such that the contents of at least two chambers are released substantially simultaneously. Alternatively or in addition, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell may be such that the contents of the plurality of chambers are released in a predetermined sequence. The period of time for release of contents from a chamber after being placed in the mouth may be controlled by providing an inner container with a predetermined solubility.

[0030] According to the invention, any one or more of a liquid, paste or solid such as a pill or powder may be provided in the inner container. Such a substance may be one or more of a medicament, a food supplement, a cosmetic, or a confectionary product. The substance might be mixed with a vector to ensure its stability.

[0031] According to a most favoured embodiment, the substance may comprise royal jelly. Alternatively or in addition, the substance may comprise honey.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 shows a consumable container being an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0034]FIG. 2 is a flow chart representation of a method of manufacture of the consumable container of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, a consumable container 100 according to the invention comprises an outer shell 110, which defines a closed cavity, and a closed inner container 120, which is provided as a membrane on the inner surface of the outer shell. The inner container has three chambers, which are formed by providing two separators 130 inside the inner container. A substance, e.g. honey containing royal jelly, can be provided in one of the chambers and a different substance, such as Ginseng, Pollen or Ginko Biloba, in each of the other two chambers. A loose fibre ball 140 (constituting an indigestible component) is provided in the central chamber. Of course, a fibre ball can be provided in any one or more of the chambers.

[0036] The outer shell 110 is made of a tight fibrous substance such as rice or maize paper which ruptures and breaks up on being placed in the mouth of a consumer. Pressure applied by the mouth of the consumer, e.g. by the tongue or cheek, can cause the outer shell to rupture. Saliva contributes to the break up of the container by causing the outer shell to disintegrate.

[0037] The inner container 120 is made of beeswax and provides an airtight seal for the contents of the container and prevents liquid or moisture containing contents from affecting the integrity of the outer shell. On being placed in the mouth, the temperature of the consumable container is raised to body temperature, which causes the inner container to soften and break up, thereby releasing the contents.

[0038] The loose fibre ball 140 is made of an indigestible material such as cotton wool. After the outer shell and inner container have broken up in the mouth of a consumer, the loose fibre ball 140 discourages the consumer from swallowing the residue. The loose fibre ball might, for example, be positioned under the tongue to bring the contents close to the large blood vessels located there.

[0039] The consumable container 100 is saucer shaped, being circular when viewed from above and elongate when viewed from the side. The diameter of the consumable container is typically in the range of 10 mm to 100 mm and the height typically in the range of 3 mm to 20 mm.

[0040] A method of manufacture 200 of the consumable container 100 of FIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0041] A fibrous substance, made from the like of rice or maize, is formed into a paste and passed through rollers to form a thin sheet about 0.5 mm to 1 mm thick. The sheet is cut to provide two sheets of the same size.

[0042] One of the sheets is laid on an open mould, which has a given number of cavities, with each cavity being used to form an individual consumable container. The mould cavities are shaped to provide the separators 130 shown in FIG. 1. A vacuum is applied to the underside of the sheet to cause the sheet to line the cavities. The mould is heated to dry the sheet and then allowed to cool rapidly 210.

[0043] The second un-moulded sheet is heated and allowed to cool rapidly to form the upper sheet 220.

[0044] One or more layers of an impermeable substance, such as beeswax or a micro-thin plastics material, are sprayed onto the upper surface of the moulded sheet and onto one of the surfaces of the upper sheet until the required thickness of impermeable substance has been deposited. The impermeable substance is then allowed to dry 230.

[0045] Where the mould cavities are not shaped to form separators, separators 130 can be formed separately and positioned on the upper surface of the moulded sheet. The separators can be formed of the same fibrous substance as the moulded sheet.

[0046] The cavities in the moulded sheet are filled with the desired substance, e.g. honey containing royal jelly, and a loose fibre ball placed in the central cavity 240.

[0047] The upper sheet is placed over the moulded sheet, with the impermeable substance towards the cavities, to enclose the contents of the cavities between upper and moulded sheets. The upper and moulded sheets are pressed together and a seal formed around each cavity with an appropriate tool, such as an ultrasonic welder or heat gun 250.

[0048] The sealed upper and moulded sheets are cut around each cavity to form individual consumable containers 260.

[0049] It is to be appreciated that the consumable container and other features described with reference to the embodiment discussed above can be combined in other embodiments of the present invention. 

1. A container for consumption by a human or animal subject, comprising an outer shell of a tight fibrous substance of sufficient strength to withstand storage/handling and defining a closed cavity, a closed liquid impermeable inner container inside the cavity, which inner container is mechanically weak and protected by the outer container, containing contents of a liquid nature to be absorbed into the bloodstream of the subject, the nature of the tight fibrous substance being such that upon placing the container in the subject's mouth the tight fibrous substance breaks up in saliva and the nature of the closed inner container being such that it is liable to rupture in the subject's mouth, thereby releasing the contents to be absorbed in the subject's mouth.
 2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the tight fibrous substance is a paper, such as rice or maize paper.
 3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the tight fibrous substance comprises a mixture of gum arabica and wood fibres.
 4. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the container provides a substantially airtight seal for the contents.
 5. A container as claimed in claim 4, in which the container is substantially impermeable to an oxidising gas.
 6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container is substantially opaque.
 7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inner container comprises an ester of monohydric alcohols of the higher homologues.
 8. A container as claimed in claim 7, in which the inner container comprises beeswax.
 9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container includes a substantially indigestible component.
 10. A container as claimed in claim 9, in which the inner container comprises one or more of a plastics material, paraffin wax and bakelite.
 11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inner container is provided with a coating of a wax, such as beeswax.
 12. A container as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, in which the substantially indigestible component is a fibrous material, such as cotton wool.
 13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outer surface area of the inner container is coextensive with the inner surface area of the outer shell, whereby the inner container lines the outer shell.
 14. A container as claimed in claim 13, in which the inner container is a membrane formed on the inside of the outer shell.
 15. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which the outer surface area of the inner container is substantially less than the inner surface area of the outer shell.
 16. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 or 15, in which the inner container is a pouch provided loosely inside the outer shell.
 17. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the inner container comprises a plurality of chambers.
 18. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a plurality of inner containers are contained within the outer shell and each inner container defines a chamber.
 19. A container as claimed in claim 17 or 18, in which a different substance is contained within each chamber.
 20. A container as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, in which upon consumption of the container, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell is such that the contents of at least two chambers are released substantially simultaneously.
 21. A container as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, in which upon consumption of the container, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell is such that the contents of the plurality of the chambers are released in a predetermined sequence.
 22. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the contents comprise one or more of a medicament, a food supplement, a cosmetic, or a confectionery product.
 23. A container as claimed in claim 22, in which the contents comprise one or both of royal jelly and honey.
 24. A drug or food supplement comprising a container as claimed in any preceding claim.
 25. A confection comprising a container as claimed in any preceding claim. 